Lawyers for the House of Representatives are pushing back on the Justice Department's decision to walk away from a statute barring female genital mutilation — and an unusual argument that lawmakers shouldn't intervene to defend the interests of Congress in the case.The fight is unfolding over the first federal criminal prosecution for female genital mutilation.Last year, a judge in Michigan threw out charges against several women who had their daughters circumcised. The Justice Department notified Congress it would not appeal that decision because of constitutional considerations.Solicitor General Noel Francisco wrote to Congress in April to say female genital mutilation should be "universally condemned" but that DOJ had "reluctantly determined" it lacked a "reasonable defense" of the law following Supreme Court rulings in other cases.